The Kaweahs 2015

Last August, C. and I took a trip to the southern Sierra Nevadas for a ten-day trek around the Kaweahs. The Kaweah Peaks Ridge is an imposing line of peaks in Sequoia National Park that forms a wall between the western portion of the park and the Kern River. The Kaweahs dominate the landscape in this part of the Sierras; wherever you go, you can usually spot one of the peaks.

Kaweah Peaks Ridge from Little Five Lakes

Black Kaweah is a picturesque, toothlike peak visible from the top of our first big climb at Colby Pass.

The Kaweah Peaks Ridge from Colby Pass – Black Kaweah is the tallest one, center right

There were a few distinguishing features of the trip, besides the Kaweahs:– The Great Western Divide, which is a larger formation that meets the Kaweah Peaks Ridge at Triple Divide Peak. We crossed the Great Western Divide twice, at Colby Pass and Sawtooth Pass.– The smoke. We started hiking just after the Rough Fire began, and the skies were clear for the first three days.

More fires started in Big Arroyo as we were leaving.

Starting on the fourth day, we had clear mornings, and the smoke settled in at around noon. The smoke built up until mid-afternoon, and things were very hazy until late at night. We even saw a small fire that had started along the trail and doused it in water, only to see more smoke there the next morning. There were signs about fires in the area when we left, so it’s unclear whether we found a new fire or not.– The logistics: we started out alone, then met C.’s parents on the third day. We spent three nights together, before heading out to meet my parents. Both meetings happened in the backcountry, without aid of cell phones or radios, and everything worked out, which seemed almost miraculous at the time.– Pants Pass, which we crossed via a trail-less route from east to west. The route was steep and loose, but even so, it seems like it would be harder going from west to east.

All in all, it was a memorable trip, and I’m sure I’ll revisit the area before long.

The Great Western Divide from near Comanche Meadow

Roaring River

Luxury meal, day one

Spring near Roaring River

The Whaleback from Big Wet Meadow

Looking back at Big Wet Meadow

Homemade tent poles

Fishing at Colby Lake

Colby Lake golden trout

Colby Lake at sunset

Colby Lake in the morning

Looking back at Colby Lake

Colby Pass

Air bass

View from Colby Pass towards Kern-Kaweah River

Kaweah Peaks ridge from Colby Pass - Black Kaweah at right

Trail towards Kern-Kaweah River

Gallats Lake

Heading up the Kern-Kaweah River

Currants

Upper reaches of the Kern-Kaweah, looking towards Pants Pass

Pants Pass and several impostors - which one is it?

Navigating talus

Lake 11,380, or as we called it, Lake Ellen

Rocky tent site

Smoke from the Rough Fire

Lake Ellen

Pants Pass in the morning - the route in RJ Secor's High Sierra guidebooks starts from this tarn.